January 2, 2010

Anyway, what with everyone being all "THE END OF A DECADE-LET US LOOK BACK" and stuff I realized I should never be uninspired because there are years of style.com that I have never seen! Duh.

I am a very very lucky recipient of the new Prada book (which I will write about later this week-I spent like 2 hours today taking pictures from books and magazines I suddenly felt like writing about, so patience, child) and probably my favorite part is the ad campaign archive. Looking through the whole book page by page gave me an adrenaline rush but this one really stuck out at me:

It's less contrasty/white in real life, sharper and browner. I messed up when editing this photo but whatevs, you get the jist.

So then I took a trip to style.com and looked at the Spring 2000 collection. I must say, it is definitely one of my top three favorite Prada collections ever (I think the others are lace and fairytale? Actually that's too hard. Let's not talk about this.)

One of the things Miuccia Prada does best is take something thought of to be ugly or tacky or the antithesis of luxurious and totally reverse its reputation. She did it with nylon, wool shorts, rubber wellingtons, and much more, and here she did it a billion times over. WHEN HAVE BROWN, MAROON, OR TURTLENECKS (turtlenecks! CLINGY turtlenecks!) EVER LOOKED THIS GOOD? And yes, caps are TOTALLY necessary.

It makes the awkward sloppy disheveled office girl cool in every way. Somehow. And we haven't even gotten to the best part yet.

THE PRINTSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS (CAPS STILL NECESSARY)

I can't even really say why they're so good, anything I try to word feels cheesy and lame? Somebody please try to read my mind/heart and put into words why I love them so much. I plan on finding one of these skirts and wearing it oversized, bag lady style, to piss everyone off.

More ads (thank you Laia for emailing me these!)God I love how in the first one she's bending down to fix her shoe or scratch her toe or something. Or coming up from bending down! It's great. It's like the ad for AW01 I think it was, where she's massaging her feet? I don't know, I love those kinds of details.

Aaaaaaand I need sleep.And I also need to buy the January issue of W because Alex White is a genius.Aaaaaand that was random and I still need sleep.

Yeah it sucks to go back to school :'(! Yeah, but I get what your saying how Prada makes the blah, unfashionable, office wear look chic, and wearable. Transforming them into aesthetics that make you go wow!http://kemichic.blogspot.com

First, i love your blog!, and second i've got a question for you: Where did you get the prada book. I'm wondering because i've read about it on the internet, but i couldn't find were i could buy it... So, can you maybe answer my question?

I find your love of this collection surprising, as much of what you capslock over is infitinely more "out there." However, as a long time turtleneck lover I am feeling what went down back when I myself was but a young one...

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++All these seems to be so old !! From the 80 's ....And i don't like at all this brown touch ......Just my taste ! ^^Kiss !=======================================================

I've been searching your blog for months, since I was told there was a girl of 14 who had a blog and was very famous, and I really love to know because right now to me you're a fashion icon :) I love you!

regarding the weird feeling about the patterns, I guess its the way its one foot on the baby-girl side (I used to have a strawberry pattern skirt when I was young) and one foot on the adult side... because of the motif and the skirt shape... don't know really

Evening Tavi :)You've inspired me alot, in the past week, yes week. I've gotton in to blogging. I have always always been interested in fashion and always had a love for it, but i don't think i've ever had the confidence to wear what i really want to, but slowly thats changing... in a week!! You should be proud of yourself! hahaI'm applying for Universities next year and decided a blog would be an awesome way to get me into the throws of design and interpreting it, and might give me something extra in my portfolio, blahdyblahblah, and i wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart (LOL cheese) for inspiring me, you may not know it, but you and your blog has worked wonders for me. I now know exactly where i want to go from here and all i can think about is fashion and writing this blog! Really i should be concentrating on actual coursework for Textiles and Art, but hey ho.So again, thank you GINORMOUS amounts for inspiring me and getting me on my way!Much loveLeahXXXX

one of my favorite prada collections was the spring 2007 ready to wear line. i love the rich colors and interesting cuts and shapes of the clothes. my favorite piece was a colorful a-line tank dress with a bold print.read my blog!www.somewhatstylish-elana.blogspot.com

prada's never really hit my nail (wierd phrase) but well you just couldnt not love those skirts especialy the lip ones .I recently embelished some tights with lips -this was before reading this post v. starnge keep up the hard work and be yourself!

I must say this new collection is quite divine but I'm not in love with it as much as other designers current collections (probably because my extravagant nature and mythicalobsession lean off the ordinary-office-brown-look and onto the tracks puffy skirts and bright or absent colours in other collections )

aww I hate that feeling on the last day of the holidays :'(I live in New Zealand and here its summer so we get our summer break now-its quiet strange as I used to live in england and I'm still getting used to it.Hope your first day at school was a good one!xoxo

Turtlenecks have never looked better ! Honestly I've always hated them because I'm at a loss to whether accessorize or not. Also, I live in LA and it is too terribly hot to even consider turtlenecks during most times of the year.And isn't it funny how back then, that was the runway look, I mean look at the heels and stuff. And nowadays, its so different. That's like baby stuff. Like Nina Ricci heels, and those awesome bows and headbands. It just goes to show how much fashion has evovled.

I am thinking "how does the all-knowing Tavi not know about this collection?;" But then I realized you were a toddler when this debuted! My, I feel old!I was just getting into fashion when this collection came out; in my eyes it has always epitomized Prada. Everytime a new fashion week rolls around I look at Prada hoping it will compare to this!If I am not mistaken, the lipstick print inspiring a few really bad knock offs!

i remain unconvinced about the appeal of brown turtlenecks, even if they are prada. I think that if a turtleneck is a must-have, it needs just a little splash of colour, or black/white (either or). but i must say the prints do take my fancy, also i love that lateritious jacket and the beige trenchcoat ;D that book looks pricey, was it?

Leah Sullivan-That is so, really, very nice to hear, you are way too kind..best of luck to you and have fun <3

Paolo and Denisha-It's interesting you say that! But there are designers now that still show looks as wearable as these. And at the time this collection showed, and even before, people like Olivier Theyskens and McQueen were showing more extravagant pieces; Prada's aesthetic just leans in a more wearable direction.

I have the lip slingbacks from this collection and forever more will probably be known as the girl with the lip shoes...I used to have recurring dreams about this collection, is that sad? hopefully not, because those shoes are still pretty awesome!

hey,!! i live right near a prada store but never gone in becuase it very intimadating but i always gaze at the pretty thing and spiral arcitecture in side!! i love the preppy femanimity of the dresses there very kool!! i also really like the advertisings my dad make adds so i always drawn to the little details my self. i love the tabluex look of the fotos like a still life so kool!!!!

God I love old fashion discoveries. Tavi, I'm not excpecting you to read these- but I've been commissioned to make a dress for a fundraising fashion show in Seattle and I'm hoping for your input on a design!! If you've got the time- slash even read this, please contact meeeeeee. gracias chica.

Actually when I first saw these ads when they came out, the word that everybody threw around was the "an affair at the office".

The star here is of course the Prada woman. They're quietly sexy in a Prada kind of way - all covered up but with pronounced bust line, or showing cleavage with the cardigan, the sexy shoes, short shorts covered in a long jacket - the kind of girl that Daria Werbowy portrayed in that Prada film, I forgot what its called. (if you havent seen it, you HAVE TO!)

She is also smart and sensual with a strong head on her shoulders. Even the guys in the ads are the extension of the Prada Women's personality. In both pictures, they are shown communicating, having some sort of intense discussion, showing that they are intellectual equals.

Most interestingly, when u put all the pictures together like you did, the picture with the purple handbag is the sensual counterpart of this "affair" story. She's dressed but with her top button unhooked and seemingly about to leave the room. He is in a sleeveless (without Jacket) therefore not fully dressed, holding gently to her asking her to stay. She's in charge.

I dont know whether these make sense to you but these ads were very defined moments back then of WHO is this smart, sensual, take charge, Prada Woman.

i looooove your blog!!! lahahooove those shoes that deserve a nobel prize!! love your wording of loving lasagne and orange. love your style. love that you are yourself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hats off and tavi on to you!!

Tiny loved your blog and how you it [and wear] fashion issue. Therefore I decided to speak briefly, about you and your blog site where I am a columnist. I hope you do not bother and you like the way I described in brief statements.

Then go to the column Talking Fashion by Ana Paula Gomes, Cool Site Area: http://www.espacocool.com.br/cms.php?id=16

I have a blog about fashion tbem: www.aiquesituacao.com after a passadinha there.

Your blog is great Tavi! I'm just starting mine and I don't know how to do much yet but if you want to check it out the URL isaltamoda2.blogspot.comKeep it up because it looks good! Any tips on starting a blog?

Great post. I'm the same age as you and I'm from the UK. I've jjst started an art project and I've decided to include you in it :) I'm doing a study on Fashion & Scott Schuman (aka The Sartorialist). Check out my blog. xxwww.teenstylegroove.blogspot.com

I always FORGET about that LIP PRINT. Remember that short-lived show about that all-male boarding school where the chick Shane from the L-Word pretended to be a dude and went there, but ended up hooking up with the hottie from Lost? She bought a pair of the lip-print shoes for her date with him. They are burned in my memory.

Hey Tavi I only discovered your blog a couple of days ago and I have to admit that you are really good and fresh in your posts! In fact you even covinced me to sart a blog : whatyoustaringat.blogspot.comI started it today so there's not a lot but you can step by if you want.I almost forgot what I wanted to ask you : are there models and photographers credits in the campaign archive of the Prada book ?

I bought those brown/mustard/navy heels new from an eBay discounter in 2006 for $80, and I could never pinpoint which season they were from. Spring 2000 ftw. You're right, the campaign is beautiful.

I used to wear those shoes to class with brown ribbed tights and sometimes a green leather trench coat. Later, when I got back into modeling, I wore them for castings, because they were my only appropriately high heels. I remember the first time I met Russell Marsh I wore them, partly in some kind of desperate hope that he might recognise the footwear — and therefore recognise me as a girl whose engagement with the Prada brand was authentic, rapturous, well-informed. He didn't.

Wow! I love the skirts too. My favorite outfit is the one with a brown sweater, white skirt and polka-dot halter top underneath...It's so creative, I would have never thought to put those things together like that!

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